MC-Guide

Content Writing

Process 1: Strategy & Goals

This Process 1 going to help you in building your strategy brief.

This process contains strategy brief builder which can automatically generate pitch and brief for you. Access that by scrolling to The Strategy Brief Builder Section.

Process 1 — Strategy & Goals (Updated Layout)

Content Writing Flow · Process 1/11 · Strategy & Goals

Process 1: Strategy & Goals (Professional Hero)

You want to write for strong magazines and high-quality sites (WIRED-style) and get paid decently. Your fastest path is not “write everything first.” Your fastest path is: make a Strategy Brief that an editor can scan in 20 seconds and immediately understand what you will deliver.

1 One publication 2 One reader 3 Problem + stakes 4 Angle 5 Proof plan 6 Scope

⚡ Build your Strategy Brief 🧩 See an example ✅ Checklist

Your first “success metric” is: reply → questions → assignment → fee → deadline.

Overview

What you’ll build in Process 1

You will create a one-page Strategy Brief that answers the editor’s biggest questions: Who is it for? What’s the problem? Why now? What’s your angle? How will you prove it? What will you deliver?

This is the difference between a beginner pitch and a professional pitch: professionals remove confusion for the editor.

Beginner steps Brief builder Filled example Mistakes Checklist

Step-by-step

The beginner approach (6 building blocks)

Build your Strategy Brief using these blocks. Write in simple words. You can polish later.

1Goal

Pick one clear goal

Pitch goal: reply → assignment → fee → deadline.
Reader goal: after reading, the reader can do one useful thing.
Keep one main goal. Too many goals = confusion.

2Reader

Choose one reader (not “everyone”)

Use: “A reader who is [role] and wants to [goal] but struggles because [block].”
One reader makes your pitch sharper and easier to assign.

3Problem + stakes

Explain the pain and the real cost

Problem: what is broken, risky, expensive, confusing, or wasting time?
Stakes: what happens if the reader ignores it?
Avoid buzzwords. Use human language.

4Angle

Choose a simple “fresh” angle

Test: you try a method/tool and report what happened.
Compare: A vs B vs C with tradeoffs and a checklist.
Explain: simplify a confusing thing with examples.
Risk: “Most people miss this and it causes problems.”

5Proof plan

List 2–4 proof items (editor safety)

Official sources (docs, policies, standards)
Reports/data (numbers + trends)
Expert quote (short interview / email)
Your small honest test (easy + believable)

6Scope

Define the size so you don’t burn out

Word count range (example: 1,200–1,600)
Format (explainer / how-to / comparison / reported feature)
Assets (1 diagram + 1 checklist, etc.)
Timeline (outline in X days, draft in Y weeks)

Simple truth: Editors don’t buy your “motivation.” They buy your clarity + angle + proof + scope.

Fill Once

Strategy Brief Builder (copy-paste ready)

Fill this in simple words. It generates a pitch line + a mini brief you can paste into your email.

Process 1 Output Auto pitch line + brief

Target publication

Pick ONE publication for this idea. It makes your pitch feel personal.

Section / desk

Ideal reader (one sentence)

Problem (simple words)

Stakes / why now

Stakes should be real, not dramatic.

Your angle (what makes it different)

Proof plan (2–4 items)

Scope (format + size + timeline)

Reader outcome (one main win)

Generated Pitch Line + Brief

Pitch line: I’m pitching a story for [Publication] ([Section]) that helps [Ideal Reader] solve [Problem] with [Angle], backed by [Proof], because [Stakes].

Mini brief:

• Reader: [Ideal Reader]
• Problem: [Problem]
• Stakes: [Stakes]
• Angle: [Angle]
• Proof: [Proof]
• Scope: [Scope]
• Reader outcome: [Reader outcome]

Tip: Copy pitch line + paste mini brief below it in your email.

Beginner email tip: Keep the email short. Pitch line first, mini brief second, then 2–3 sample links.

Example

Filled example (copy the pattern)

Replace [bracketed text] for your story idea.

Example Strategy Brief

Idea type: beginner explainer + checklist (easy to commission)

Publication: [Tech / business site]
Section: [AI / Work / Security]
Reader: A team lead who wants to use AI tools at work but struggles because they don’t know what is safe to share.
Problem: People paste private info into AI tools without understanding the risks.
Stakes: A small mistake can leak client data, break policy, or create legal trouble — and many companies still don’t have clear rules.
Angle: A simple “do / don’t” policy checklist with safe prompt examples and red-flag examples.
Proof: Company policy examples, security guidance, and one short expert quote (or IT manager interview).
Scope: 1,200–1,600 words + 1 diagram + printable checklist. Outline in 3 days, draft in 2 weeks.
Reader outcome: After reading, the reader can write a 10-line internal checklist and train the team in 15 minutes.

Avoid These

Common beginner mistakes (and the simple fix)

×Mistake: vague topic

“I want to write about cybersecurity.”

Fix: add one reader + one problem + one outcome.

×Mistake: no angle

“This is important and people should know.”

Fix: use an angle: test, compare, explain, or risk.

×Mistake: weak proof

“Trust me, it’s true.”

Fix: list 2–4 proof items: docs, data, expert quote, small test, examples.

×Mistake: huge scope

“I will cover everything.”

Fix: set a word count, format, and one deliverable. Make it finishable.

Before Process 2

Checklist: are you ready to move to research?

Say “Continue” only after you can answer these quickly.

Publication chosen: One outlet + one section.

Reader sentence: I can describe the reader in one line.

Problem + stakes: I wrote pain + real cost + why now.

Angle: test/compare/explain/risk chosen.

Proof plan: 2–4 items I can actually get.

Scope: word count + format + timeline set.

Output ready: pitch line + mini brief ready to paste.

Next: When you say Continue, I’ll write Process 2 (Audience & Topic Research) in the same style.

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